What are water recycling systems?

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Water recycling systems are systems that repurpose waste water by creating an alternative use for dirty water. There are several types of water recycling systems available for residential use, such as unfiltered greywater pump systems, passive greywater systems and custom greywater systems.

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Waste water, also known as greywater, is dirty water flushed from toilets, sinks, showers and other household plumbing systems. One type of recycling system, a greywater filtration system, filters particulate matter from waste water using a series of filters. These systems remove large debris from waste water, such as seeds and leaves that accumulate in outdoor rain barrels.

Unfiltered greywater pump systems are common water recycling systems in households. These systems are best for indoor use, because the lack of a filter can cause sediment build-up within the system. Unfiltered greywater pump systems are usually attached to bathroom sink outlets and toilet intakes. When the sink is used, the system sends water to the toilet tank for use during flushing. Alternatively, these systems can run used water from the bathtub to the garden.

Passive greywater systems require no additional hardware modifications. These systems are usually initiated by the user. For example, a person may bring a bucket with them in the shower and collect the dirty water for use in the toilet tank.

Custom greywater systems are specialized systems built into the home. These systems can specify where the waste water is used and can be linked to irrigation systems. Custom systems can also monitor the amount of water being recycled.